Updated at 11:50 PM PDT.
Results from Day 5 of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID:
Lewis-Clark State 9, Spring Arbor 4 (Spring Arbor eliminated)
The Warriors opened the scoring in the third inning, when 2B Josh Ashenbrenner came in on a ground out by SS Brett Wyatt. They took over the game in the fourth with an RBI single by C Brian Ward, an RBI double by 1B Ikaika Lester, an an RBI single by RF Chris Valencia.
The Cougars did not go home without a fight. They got on the board in the fifth with an RBI single by starting pitcher Jesse Bachman. The Warriors added two in the top of the sixth on a triple by Valencia. The Cougars answered with a two-RBI single by C Lucas Rider in the bottom of the sixth, and an RBI single by SS Bradley Baker in the bottom of the seventh.
That made the score 6-4 after seven innings, but the Cougars couldn’t get any closer. Justin Mace pitched the last two innings for the Warriors, and retired all six batters that he faced. The Cougars hit into double plays in the fifth and seventh, and 2B Jeff Hollister was robbed of an extra-base hit in the eighth with a good catch by CF Paul Martin. Three of the Warrior runs were unearned.
Starter Nick Masters got the win for the Warriors; he went 5 2/3 innings, allowed three runs (two of them earned) on five hits. Bachman, who allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits over six innings, got the loss. Mace got a save.
Lester went 3-5 with a double and three RBI. Valencia finished 2-3 with three RBI. RF Jonathan Herbig was 2-4 for the Cougars.
The Cougars finished the tournament in fourth place, not bad for a team that played only 44 games going into the tournament. They were the runner-up last year.
Story from NAIA site: Warriors Stay Alive With 9-4 Defeat of Spring Arbor
Lee 6, Oklahoma City 5 (Oklahoma City eliminated)
The fans in Lewiston were treated to another well-played and entertaining game. It went back an forth a couple of times. The Flames led 4-3 going into the eighth inning. 2B Landon Camp hit a two-run home run in the top of the eighth to give the Stars a 5-4 lead. 3B Josh Guy responded for the Flames in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run home run to give the Flames the winning run.
Both teams got very good performances from their starters. For the Stars, it was Tyler Kelsey, who went seven innings, allowed four runs on seven hits. For the Flames, it was Joel Matthews, who threw 119 pitches over eight innings, allowed four earned runs on five hits, struck out seven. Matthews got the win. Ryan Stovall, who moved from DH to the mound for the ninth inning, got a save. Reliever Brad Riddle, who gave up the home run by Guy, got the loss.
The Flames took the early lead in the first, when leadoff hitter CF Jeremy Hutslar walked, was bunted to second, and came home on a single by 1B Chris Warters. The Stars took a 3-1 lead in the third; 1B David Dennis singled in two runs, and 3B Brent Weaver scored on a wild pitch.
The Flames got their second run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by LF Clint Harrelson. They took a 4-3 lead in the seventh on a two-RBI double by SS Brian Bistagne.
Harrelson was 2-3 for the game. Camp finished 2-2.
The Stars finished the tournament in third place.
Attendance: 2,005
Story from NAIA site: Lee Remains Perfect at World Series After 6-5 Win Over Oklahoma City
Schedule for Thursday, May 29:
7:05 PM PDT: Lee vs. Lewis-Clark State
If Lewis-Clark State wins, they will do it one more time on Friday.
All games are webcast by KOZE Radio (audio and free) and watchnaia.com (video and $6.95/game). Live stats are available for all games at CSTV Gametracker.
1 comment
The Cougars did not go home without a fight.
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